Galvis talks PED suspension
Competing for a major league job this spring, Freddy Galvis is putting a wild 2012 rookie season in the past.
Galvis talks PED suspension
Ryan Lawrence
Eleven months ago he was asked to play a new position for the first time in his life. He handled it flawlessly.
Then he was suddenly thrust into the Opening Day lineup and asked to be the everyday second baseman. He may have been the best defensive second baseman in the league.
Then he broke his back.
Then he was suspended.
And just like that, Freddy Galvis’s rookie season was over before July.
“Fast,” Galvis said when asked for one word that best captured 2012.
Galvis, now 23, is back in major league camp. He’s healthy and he’s competing for a bench job.
Galvis is also putting his lowest moment of 2012 behind him.
Less than two weeks after suffering a back injury, Galvis was suspended 50 games after testing positive for a PED, a metabolite of Clostebol.
Galvis served the suspension late last summer but didn’t speak about it when he was made available to reporters toward the end of the Phillies season.
He spoke a bit about it Sunday morning at Bright House Field.
“It was tough, man, Galvis said. “Sometimes you don’t do stuff and you pay for it. Like I said before, that’s life and you have to move on. Sometimes when you don’t do nothing and the blame you, that’s bad stuff but they have rules and you have to follow the rules. But that’s in the past right now. Right now I’m focused on 2013.”
Galvis is taking reps at shortstop, second base and third base this spring. He figures to get playing time at short, his natural position, when Jimmy Rollins leaves to play in the World Baseball Classic.
As for his back, Galvis say it's strong and healthy. He played three months of games in the Venezuelan Winter League.
He is doing regular, daily maintenance work to keep his back in shape.
Yo, Freddie just go catch the ball cause ain't nobody can do it better than you...— rex nemorensis- If Galvis can somehow manage to hit .250 he'll be the Phillies Shortstop for the next 10-12 years once Rollins leaves.— SteveS11
- "Why is baseball doing this? To protect the integrity of the game and maybe so kids don't look at these stars and think that they need to take steroids to try to become better baseball players."
The problem with that argument is that there are more marginal players doing PED's then there are "Stars" so they are totally shooting themselves in the foot by doing this. For every so called "Star" they catch and shine a spotlight on as an "example" a whole lot of marginal guys slip through the media cracks. Those are the ones you want to use as an example to kids. If you show them guys who had success using PEDs they are going to more inclined to take the risk. By showing them the numerous marginal guys who are using,that hammers home the Anti- PED argument in a much more effective way.— bkg126 - Where was the follow-up question to that non-answer nonsense, something about 'when you don't do nothing'? How can you write this? It doesn't say anything, man.— PhillySubsMac
- Do not forget about this back injury. I heard reports that he has a pars fracture, which is a stable fracture in the spine that is either repaired by surgery or requires daily maintenance. I am in the latter category, and so is Galvis. It causes quite a bit of pain and requires constant work on your core. I'm a step slower than I used to be but I'm gaining it back. I cannot imagine what this type of injury does to a batting swing...but I bet it isn't good.
I think he should be ticketed to AAA and work on his hitting and hand-eye coordination. He can be a serviceable utility guy but I don't think he has the ceiling to be an every day major league hitter.— sobjoe24 - Unlike most Philly fans and all Philly media, Galvis was honest enough to know that guys with a stick like his don't make the majors. So, he resorted to the only other thing he knew; PEDs. Galvis is a good glove, no bat guy; guys like him are a dime a dozen.— JBinPA
- Nobody has mentioned yet but why is 80% of the offenders Spanish speaking? Most speak & read Spanish, maybe MLB should educate them with a list of banned substance in Spanish.— quakercityguy
- @Pack Leader--If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.— orange rhino
- For what exactly am I wishing? I said "if", not "I wish". IF he hits for a decent average and develops a little gap power, he WILL be an asset. That's a fact. — The Pack Leader
- Nice update on Freddy but what's the outlook for his future vis a vis the future of Mike Fransden (in 2013, anyhow). Both? What?— Ringsider
- if the kid can defend at the level he appears to...AND can play 3 positions that well, he is gold, regardless of what he hits. On a team that will be defensively challenged at 1st/3rd and potentially both OF corners, he is a great asset. I couldnt care less what he hits— TheLon
- You could care less? Then you have Michael Martinez. Guys who can glove and cant hit should not be in the major leagues. You are expecting Galvis to play 1st base? You are kidding...right? — wobblie
- Read it again: he said that the team will be defensively challenged at 1st/3rd and both OF corners. He never said Galvis would play 1st, or the OF. He simply said Galvis will be an asset because he will improve the defense, in general. I agree. — The Pack Leader
- yeah seriously, the PEDs were the only reason this guy had taste of the MLB— main liner
- This kid has one of the best gloves I've seen in a while. If he can hit for a decent average and develop a little gap power, I think he could really become a valuable asset for the Phils.— The Pack Leader
- Now a clean Freddy can hit .150.— orange rhino
- You're batting .1000 in the dumb comment department. — The Pack Leader
- Actually that is about right. The PED version of Freddy hit a whopping .226! — wobblie
- is this the guy that wrote the Toradol/Papelbon story? Has anyone ever written a story connecting PEDs to injuries? A-rod, Chooch, Galvis come to mind. Must be a ton of others.— porcamiseria34
- Freddy was one of the few good reasons to watch this team in April/May 2012. Stay away from the PED's kid.— wistahoma
- Freddy was one of the few good reasons to watch this team in April/May 2012. Stay away from the PED's kid.— wistahoma
- Huh? This headline misleads the reader into thinking there is information here. Ryan - I'm not normally critical of the writing here but you should pull this story immediately. It has to be embarrassing. Come back with another story about Galvis when you have something to write about. I want to know what happened with the suspension.— vafan
- The unreliability of drug testing is the issue which leads to people being accused of PED violations and then being forced to take the fall for the "good" of the game. Were an accused to fight with lawyers, the cost would easily approach the money lost during a suspension and then more. Plus, word is quietly shared with the affected player to "apologize and act like man". Career ending threats are made as a warning (average player is signed for 1-2 years and competition is fierce during free agency signings). So, what is a man to do when he is accused of PED violations and cannot defend himself? Suck it up.
Why is baseball doing this? To appease the Government in its ongoing war against drugs.— Aces high - Why is baseball doing this? To protect the integrity of the game and maybe so kids don't look at these stars and think that they need to take steroids to try to become better baseball players.
What is a player to do when he is accused? Appeal the suspension and prevent evidence that you didn't take steroids. These things don't miraculously get into your body and your name doesn't randomly come up on reports. A-Rod admitted PED use, Braun failed 2 tests and is now on lists, Bonds failed drug tests and ruined great records by Aaron and Maris, McGwire admitted PED use....what are we missing here? People are taking the fall because they were cheating.— jimbo jones - “It was tough, man, Galvis said. “Sometimes you don’t do stuff and you pay for it. Like I said before, that’s life and you have to move on. Sometimes when you don’t do nothing and the blame you, that’s bad stuff but they have rules and you have to follow the rule?
So is this a denial? What is he trying to say here?— outta work
